Self-closing valve



SCPL 17; 1929. o. A. YOUNGREN 1,728,4654

SELF CLOSING VALVE Y Filed March 28, 1928 Patented Sept. 17, 1929 joscA-R A. YoUNGREmcF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA i ,f

` ysans;CLOSING vALvn Application med Maren 2s, 192s. `serial No. 265,237.

This invention ,f relates to' self-closingk valves, and more especiallyto that type of valve employedfor sealing receptacles containing fluid under pressure. n

An object ofthe invention is the provision of anl improved typeof self-closing valve adapted for use with such flexible kreceptacles as inflatable' balls,liepreserVerS, andthe like. f

A more detailed object is the provision of a valve of the character described, comprising an' inflating and'deflating tube extending from a port insa wall of such an inflatable receptacle, and' one or more strips of flexible material secured adjacent they point of attachrnent of the tube to the ball in such position as to exten'ddirectly over the port 'and collapse the tube," and to `permit theinterweaving and kinking of the tube about the strips 'to form an effective sealing means for the tube. n d

' A further object is-the provision of'a sealing valve as described, in which the flexible strips are capable ofy not only sealing the tube, but yalso offering protection therefor against abrasion or ,other injury.

l With the foregoing and other objects in viewi which will be made manifestin the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the `appended claims, reference 1s had to the accompanying ydrawings for an illustrative 'embodiment of the invention,

wherein: y n o Figure 1 is a perspective'view showing one form of my improved self-closing valve 1n operative position upon an inflated balli. Fig. 2 is atransversa'sectional vlew of a portion of the ball and the valve, ywith the valve shown in sealing position.

Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional View ofthe valve of Fig. 2, in inflating or deflating position. y y f Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. y2 of amodified form of valve. n f

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, of a 'further modication of the valve'.l y, Fig. 6 is'alview similar to Fig. 2,'of still another modification 'of the valve.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig..2, Ofanother modification. n

" Fig. 8 is a transverse, sectional view of ak portionof aball, with the valve ofy Fig. ''v

in inflating or deflating position.k

n In terms ofbroad inclusion, my improved self-closing valve comprises ya flexible inflating and deflating tube in communication with the interior of an inflatable ball or other receptacle. rOne or more 'strips of flexible material are secured to theoutside of the receptacle kadjacent the point atl' which the tube penetratesthe' wall, and so positioned in respect thereto that the tube may be interwoven o and kinked thereabout to' form an effective means of collapsing yand sealing the tube against escape of the air kor other fluid under pressure within the receptacle. At. least one ofthe strips is skoipositioned'that it extends directlyacross the point of attachment of the tube yto the receptacle, so that when rthe strip o isin normal rposition,`the tube isbent at a sharp'angle 'from the direction in which it would otherwise extend from therec'eptacle.

kThe tube is 'then bent at substantially 180"y about a free edge of the strip to'so e'ectually collapsey the tube that'a positive seal is providedagainst theescape of fluid fromr the receptacle. j y` f f y *y In greater. detail, a preferred embodiment ofthe invention is shown as a means for sealing an inflatable ball 11 ofk conventional type. A flexible tube 12, preferably of'rubber, isk attached to the ball 11 to extendfrom a port 13 and establishcommunication withthe interior of the ball 11 to permit inflation `or dei i nery end y'14 of the tube within the yport 13 by` `ordinary'rubber cement. f

In they embodiment shown inFigsll, 2, and

3,y a pair of flexible, and preferably electric,y strips 16 and'17 are securedto the ball11y in such kposition that'their free edgesy 18 and 19 respectively, overlap the port 13, and with` the free edge 19`rof the strip k17 koverlapping the" free edge 18 of the stripy 16. Preferably, the strips lfrandk 17 aresemi-circular in form, and each is ysecured to the yball 11' top of the strip 16 by the overlapping strip 17 It may be readily understood that when t-he ball 11 has been inflated to a Vcertain degree, the pressure of the entrapped iiuid will cause the flaps 16 and 17 to be vstretched tightly toward the ball, with the result thatvjthe tube 12 is collapsed to' effect the tight sealing thereof fand prevent the escape of thev fluid. y t A slot 23 is provided in the lowermost strip 16, closely adjacent the free edge 19 of the strip 17. Through this slot 23, the outer end 24 of the tube may be inserted. This offers not only an additional means for collapsing the tube, but also means for protecting the otherwise exposed end 24 of the tube against abrasion, bruising, or other injury.

Since the strips 16 and 17 are composed of flexible, and preferablyy elastic material, the free edges 18 and'19 respectively, may be lifted from the ball 11 sufficiently to permit the tube 12 to straighten out as clearly shown in Fig. 3. This is to be effected of course after the outer end 24 of the tube 12 hasA been removed from the slot 23 in the lowermost strip 16. Y To facilitate the raising of the free edges 18and 19, a cord 26 extends from the free edge 18 of the lowermost strip 16,

whereby by pulling on the cord 26, the free edge 13 of the lowermost strip maybe elevated, and withit the free edge 19 of the upper stripr 17. It is obvious that when in this position, the tube 12 may straightenout to permitready inflation or deflation of' the ball 11 whenever desirable.l

In the` modification .shown in F ig. 4, the ball 11 is supplied with a flexible tube 12 extending from a port 13 in the ball 11, in the same manner as previously described. A strip 31 is secured at one edge to the ball 11 adjacent the port 13, with the free edge 32 thereof extending over the port to bend the tube 12 sharply to one vsideas it leaves the h 'ball 11. A second strip 33 isr disposed over ,with an aperture 35 through which the outer end'29 of the tube 12 is accessible. The tube 12 is bent sharply around the free edge 32 of the lowermost strip 31, and back between the strips 31 and 33. Thus when the ball 11 is inflated, the strip 31 will be sufficiently tensionedto press part of the tube 12 tightly against the ball 11; and the strip 33 will be sufiiciently tensioned to press the remainder ofthe tube 12 against the top of the strip 31. The strips 31 and 33 are possessed of enough elasticity to permit their being elevated sufn ficiently to release the tube, the outer end 24 of which may then be drawn out through the aperture 35 for the purpose of inflation or deflation.

-In Fig. 5 a further modification is shown, wherein a single strip 36 is employed. The strip 36 is secured at its ends only, to the ball 11, withthe center portion ot' the strip 36 extending over the port 13 so that the tube 12 is bent sharply to one side as it leaves the ball 11. With this modification, the tube 12 may be bent sharply yaround that free edge 37 of the strip 36 toward which it is bent as it'leaves the ball, to extend across the top of the vstrip 36 to have its outer end 24 inserted under the free edge V38 of the strip 36. Fig. 6 shows another modification wherein the tube 12 is first bent sharply to one side as it leaves the ball 11V by a lowermost strip 41. It is then bent sharply around the free edge 42 of the lowermost strip 41 by another strip 43 overlapping the lowermost strip 41 from the other side of the port 13. The youter end 24 of the tube 12 is then again bent sharply around the free edge 44 of the strip ,43 by a third strip 46 which overlaps both strips 41 and 43 from the same side as the lowermost strip 41.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a still further modifica;

t-ion in which two strips 51 and 52 overlap the port 13 from the same side. The tube 12 is bentV sharply as it leaves the ball ,11

toward the free edges 53 and 54 respectively, of' the strips, and is bent sharply around the free edge 53 of the lowermost strip 51- with the outer end 24 of the tube 12 inserted between the two strips.

F ig. 8 shows the manner in which the strip of the last mentioned modification may be raised to permit the tube 12 to straighten out for the purpose of inflation or deliation.

Various changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. In combination with an inflatable receptacle provided with a port, a self-closing valve comprising a tube leading from said port, and a pair of strips secured to the receptacle and extending over the port, aL portion of said tube being releasably collapsed between theinnermost of said strips and the receptacle, and said tube having a reverse bend therein to removably dispose another portion of the tube between said strips.

2. In combination with an inflatable receptacle provided with a Aport, a self-closing valve comprising a tube lead-ing from said port, and a plurality of strips secured to the llO receptacle and extending over the port, a portion of said tube being releasably collapsed between said strips.y

3. In combination with an inflatable receptacle provided with a port, a y.seflfclosing valve comprising a tube leading fromy saidk port, and a plurality of elastic strips secured to the receptacle and extending over the port, a portion of said tube being releasably collapsed between said strips.

4. In combination with an inflatable receptacle provided with a port, a self-closing valve comprising a flexible tube leading from said port, a strip secured to said receptacle and overlapping lsaid port from one side thereof, and a second strip secured to the receptacle and overlapping the port and first mentioned strip from the opposite side of the port, a portion of said tube being releasably collapsed between said strips.

5. In combination with an inflatable receptacle provided with a port, a. self-closing valve comprising a flexible tube leading from said port, an elastic strip secured to said receptacle and overlapping said port from one side thereof, and a second elastic strip secured to the receptacle and overlapping the port and first mentioned elastic stripy from the opposite side of the port, a portion of said tube being releasably collapsed between said strips.

6. In combination with an inflatable recep tacle provided with a port, a self-closing valve comprising a flexible tube leading from said port, an elastic strip secured to said receptacle and overlapping said port from one side thereof, and a second elastic strip secured to the receptacle and overlapping the port and first mentioned strip from the opposite side of the port, said tube being bent in a sharp angle around the overlapped edge of said first mentioned strip when the strips are in normal position. f f

7. In combination with an inflatable receptacle provided with a port, a self-closing valve comprising a flexible tube leading from said port, an elastic strip secured to saidy receptacle and overlapping said port from one side thereof, and a second elastic strip secured to the receptacle and overlapping the port and first mentioned strip from the opposite side of the port, said tube being bent in a sharp angle around the overlapped edge of said first mentioned strip when the strips are in normal position, and said first mentioned strip being provided with a slot through which the outer end of the tube is adapted to be inserted. y

8. In combination with an inflatable receptacle provided with a port, a seliclosing valve comprising a flexible tube leading from said port, a strip secured to said receptacle and overlapping said port from one side thereof, a second strip'secured to the receptacle and overlapping the port and first mentioned strip from the opposite side of the port, and a cord secured adjacent the freey l0. In combination with an inflatable receptacle provided with a port, a self-closing valve comprising a tube leading from said port, a plurality of overlapping strips secured to said receptacle and extending over the portv from opposite sides thereof, saidtube being bent at a sharp angle about an edge of one of the strips to collapse the tube, and a cord extending from the free edge of the innermost f .strip whereby the strips may be elevated to release the tube.

In testimony'whereof I have signed my name to this specification. f

OSCAR A. YOUNGREN.

glio

y 12oy 

